India .. Demonstrations continue and Moody party launches media campaign in support of naturalization law

Thousands of demonstrators protesting India's new nationality law gathered today in the streets of many Indian cities and towns, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party launching a massive media campaign to counter what he described as "disinformation" over the law that sparked bloody protests.

On the other hand, the opposition National Congress Party organized a protest rally in the capital, New Delhi, in opposition to the controversial law, led by party leader Sonia Gandhi.

The new law permits the granting of Indian citizenship to irregular immigrants with the nationalities of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, provided they are not Muslims and face persecution because of their religion in their predominantly Muslim countries.

A spokesman for the regional "Dravida Monitor Kazagam" party said more than 100,000 people took part in what police described as a peaceful march against the law in the southern city of Chennai.

In Bangalore - the main center of information technology in India - hundreds joined a demonstration called by more than thirty Muslim organizations, demanding the withdrawal or amendment of the law.

In the face of mounting public anger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party launched a massive media campaign to counter what the party described as "disinformation" about the law, under the slogan "Don't get carried away."

And the Indian government published in the national newspapers today long statements displaying "details" of the nationality amendment law, explaining that it does not affect the Indian Muslims, who number about two hundred million people.

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The ruling party also broadcasted an animated film in a Tweet on Twitter representing two Muslim figures discussing the text of the law, and concluded that "the country can only progress through peace and brotherhood", and thousands of people praised the video, while other social media pioneers mocked it.

It is noteworthy that the World Federation of Muslim Scholars had called yesterday the Indian government to retract the Nationality Law, describing it as "racist with distinction against Muslims."

On the other hand, he was defended by the Indian Prime Minister, stressing that he was not directed against Muslims, and blamed the opposition in his country for the violence that erupted in protest of the law.